Consumed with my "orthodog"

A week ago, Monday the 19th of March, Pocky was out for a routine walk in the planned community (Peccole Ranch) near our house. Because the area has walking trails and is off-limts to cars with lots of grassy areas, there are always many dogs out for a walk and some playing. My husband, Aaron let Pocky play with some other dogs, much as we do everyday either at our daily dog park visit or on a walk in Peccole. While playing, Pocky cut a corner and tripped (almost looking like he fell in a hole). Aaron noticed him start limping and they made their way home.

After I got home, I checked the leg and thought it could be his hips or arthritis, but not really knowing, we decided to call the vet in the morning if the doggie asprin and rest did not improve Pocky. In the morning he was no better, and we took him in to the vet at six am.

The vet told is that he needed to put Pocky under sedative, so that he could do a full range of motion test. Dogs tend to hold the leg stiff when they are in pain and the vet can't get a good look at the leg function. So, we agreed and had him admitted for the tests and X-rays. The vet mentioned that he suspected that it could be an ACL injury, but we were hoping for other news since that was the most serious and the most costly procedure.

Later in the day, our fears were confirmed and the vet knew for sure that it was a cruciate ligament injury. This injury requires a referral to an orthopedic specialist and another consulation. We went home with a sore and scared dog and soon we were as worried and upset as he was.

There is a ton of information on the Internet on the TPLO surgery, the various older stifle surgeries and the recuperation process. There is also an active listserv orthodogs that has many members. We started wading through all the information which started to make us even more terrified. As if the price alone wasn't enough. A traumatic surgery that cost $3000? yes, we had some hard conversations ahead of us.

Ever since last week, I have been totally consumed with my "orthodog" and his prognosis. I even set up blog to follow the long ordeal, Pocky's TPLO Surgery.

UPDATE 4/15: Pocky was doing great and went to the vet to get his sutures out. On the way home he got excited leaving the vet and somehow, don't ask me???....injured his other knee in exactly the same way!! Insane. We cannot do anything surgically for four weeks anyway, but this is really a bummer.